MONTROSE ROSELEA v FORFAR ALBION

McBOOKIE.COM NORTH DIVISION

SAT MARCH 10^th 2012 

Roselea had a home league game versus strugglers Forfar Albion who sat second from the bottom. Despite their lowly position they did pose a threat as they had hit some form by winning and drawing their last two games. Roselea continued with the same line up that started in the emphatic win over Kirrie Thistle last Saturday. The team were aiming to keep level with Dundee Violet who had a trip to Lochee Harp. Ross Colquhoun returned to the bench after a spell out injured. 

Roselea: Mcleod, P Taylor, R Taylor, Whyte, Reoch, Urquhart, Mustard, Anderson, Collier, Fletcher & Webster. Subs: Riach, Colquhoun, Kennedy, Aitken, Strachan, Brand & Craig.

Roselea were facing the customary Broomfield wind however they had the first chance when a long free kick from Reoch was deflected into the path of Collier and his header was saved by the onrushing Wilson. 

Albion retaliate in 3 minutes when Small broke away from Reoch but the defenders pace got him back in position to block for a corner. 

Roselea almost got caught out in 6 minutes when they failed to deal with a short corner and Fergusons shot was deflected behind. Good play between Webster and Ryan Taylor saw the latter send in a dangerous cross to Urquhart at the far post and his lay off was volleyed first time by Collier however Wilson was well placed to save. 

Taylor was next to try his luck for Roselea when he connected with a Collier cut back but his right footed shot was turned behind for a corner in 19 minutes. 

Roselea were on top a piling the pressure on and Urquhart then Webster both had efforts saved for corners in 23 minutes. 

Low of the away side was lucky to escape a booking when he was late on Collier. From the free kick Webster chipped the ball into the far post area and Mustard was not far away with his header. 

Roselea pressure finally paid off in 28 minutes when WHYTE connected well with a corner kick and strongly headed home. On the half hour Fletcher played Urquhart in down the right wing and his great ball flashed across the Albion goal face and McLeish had to turn it away for a corner. 

Low was again the accused, giving away a free kick and when the ball broke to Whyte in the box he had to improvise but got in a great volley which Wilson held in 36 minutes. 

On 40 minutes Roselea almost scored a controversial goal but it was chalked off with Collier being in an offside position. Webster swung over a cross which Albion claimed was out and Fletchers shot was turned in by Collier who was offside. There was another chance for Albion in 43 minutes but Reoch got in a block and when the ball was cleared to the other end Collier was brought down just outside the box. Fletcher tried an up and over the wall shot aiming for the top left corner but was off target. 

Half Time: Roselea 1 Forfar Albion 0

Mustard was first to try his luck for Roselea in the second half and although his left footed strike was decent it was easily held by Wilson. 

In 52 minutes Albion threatened but Reoch was handily placed to clear. 

Low finally found himself in the booked for a late challenge. 

In 59 minutes a poor clearance by Elder allowed Webster to pick the ball up and beat two men in the box however he ran into the trouble before he could get a shot away and when the ball fell to Fletcher he was not far away with a left foot curler. 

In 62 minutes Black of Albion swung his left foot at a cross and was not far away. 

Roselea were needing a second goal to make the points secure an nearly did so in 62 minutes. Collier and Fletcher combined well and Wilson saved with his feet again as Fletcher shot when the ball rebounded to Collier his chip was just over the far post. 

In 66 minutes Roselea replaced Fletcher and Mustard with Kennedy and Aitken in a double substitution.  

A minute later Urqhuart found Aitken on the left and the young strikers cross had to be cleared by McLeish with Collier waiting to pounce. Aitken was looking lively and managed to nip in to pick up the ball in the box before he played it back to Urquhart at the edge of the box and Wilson saved his shot turning it behind for a corner. 

Roselea finally managed to secure the points courtesy of a penalty in 84 minutes. Collier shot against the hands of Low who couldn’t really get out of the way and the referee pointed to the spot. Kevin WEBSTER made no mistake from the spot driving the ball into the corner. Roselea played out the last few minutes knowing the points were in the bag and did not have to chase the game. 

Final Score: Montrose Roselea 2 Forfar Albion 0

 Referee Scott McBurney 

The win keeps Roselea on the tail of co leaders Violet who had won 3-2 at Lochee Harp. It was a comfortable win but it was easy to see the improvement in the young Forfar side who competed well throughout the game. Match Sponsors Neil Smith and KVA Legends presented Craig Anderson with his man of the match award. Roselea now have a free week whilst leaders Violet host Arbroath Vics in a game where all at Roselea hope that they can falter in.